Create A Fact Sheet Explaining Recent Nursing Informatics

Create a fact sheet explaining a recent nursing informatics policy or regulation

As a professional nurse, you are expected to apply your expertise to patient care. On occasion, you will also be expected to share that expertise. With evolving technology and continuous changes to regulations designed to keep up these changes, there is usually a need to share information and expertise to inform colleagues, leadership, patients, and other stakeholders. In this Assignment, you will study a recent nursing informatics-related healthcare policy, and you will share the relevant details via a fact sheet designed to inform and educate.

Consider the role of the nurse informaticist in relation to a healthcare organization’s compliance with various policies and regulations, such as the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Research and select one health or nursing informatics policy (within the past 5 years) or regulation for further study.

Create a 1-2 page fact sheet that your healthcare organization could hypothetically use to explain the health or nursing informatics policy/regulation you selected. Your fact sheet should address the following:

• Briefly and generally explain the policy or regulation you selected.
• Address the impact of the policy or regulation you selected on system implementation.
• Address the impact of the policy or regulation you selected on clinical care, patient/provider interactions, and workflow.
• Highlight organizational policies and procedures that are/will be in place at your healthcare organization to address the policy or regulation you selected. Be specific.

Paper For Above instruction

Understanding the 21st Century Cures Act and Its Impact on Healthcare Informatics

The 21st Century Cures Act, enacted in December 2016 and implemented gradually over subsequent years, is a comprehensive legislative framework aimed at accelerating medical research, improving mental health services, and advancing health information technology across the United States. This legislation emphasizes the secure, seamless exchange of health information to promote patient-centered care and enhance clinical outcomes by harnessing the full potential of health informatics.

In healthcare settings, the 21st Century Cures Act significantly influences the adoption and utilization of electronic health records (EHRs), facilitating interoperability and data sharing. It mandates the development of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that enable secure, real-time access to health data by authorized providers and patients, thereby transforming how system implementation is approached within healthcare organizations. EHR vendors and hospitals have had to upgrade their systems to meet these interoperability standards, which involve complex integration processes and increased focus on data security protocols.

The impact on clinical care and workflow has been profound. With improved data sharing capabilities, clinicians can access comprehensive patient histories, lab results, and imaging reports promptly, reducing redundant testing and improving diagnostic accuracy. This seamless flow of information enhances patient-provider interactions by fostering transparency and shared decision-making. Additionally, the streamlined workflow reduces administrative burdens, allowing healthcare providers to dedicate more time to direct patient care rather than paperwork or manual data entry.

To comply with the 21st Century Cures Act, our healthcare organization has implemented specific policies and procedures. These include mandatory participation in interoperability certification programs, ongoing staff training on new EHR functionalities, and strict data security measures aligned with HIPAA standards. Moreover, protocols have been established for routine audits to ensure compliance with data sharing mandates and safeguard patient information. These organizational policies ensure that our facility remains compliant and optimally leverages health informatics to improve patient outcomes.

References

• Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. (2019). The 21st Century Cures Act, Interoperability, and Patient Access. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• American Medical Association. (2020). Legislation and policy updates on health IT. AMA Journal of Ethics, 22(4), E322-E329.
• HealthIT.gov. (2021). The role of APIs in healthcare. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2019). Interoperability and Patient Access Final Rule. CMS.gov.
• Farah, S., & Neily, J. (2020). Implementing health information technology: Strategies and challenges. Journal of Healthcare Management, 65(2), 123-130.